Wheel-strengthener.



JOSHUA W. SPLAWN, OF TEMPLE. OKLAHOMA.

WHEEL-STRENGTHENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1916.

Application tiled March 11, 1915. Serial No. 13,705.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSHUA SrLAwN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Temple, in the county of Cotton and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Vheel- Strengtheners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a wheel strengthener commonly known as an anti-disher, and has for its object the production of a simple and efficient means for preventing a wheel from dishing or becoming bowed near the liub thereof.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eiiicient means which mav be applied to any wheel Without considerable difliculty, and it should be understood that the present device is adapted to be permanently attached to the wheel and is not merely intended to be temporarily placed upon the wheel for strengthening the same,'although the device may be readily or conveniently removed when desired.

With these and other objects in View this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constriictions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the outer side of the wheel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the inner face of the wheel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the hub of the wheel showing the notches formed in the ends thereof for the purpose of receiving the brace radiating rods. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4 4. of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the clamping band for holding the radiating rods in engagement with the hub. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of one of the clamping cuffs for attaching the bracing rings to the spokes of the wheel. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the bracing ring showing the apertures formed therein for the purpose of facilitating the securing of the cuffs to the bracing ring.

By referring to the drawing it will be seen that 1 designates the felly of the wheel to which is secured a plurality of spokes 2 of the usual construction. These spokes 2 engage the hub 3. The hub 3 is provided at one end thereof with a plurality of notches 4, which notches communicate with an annular channelor groove Viformed arounduone end of the hublf;

A. bracing ring-6 is adapted'tofit snugly against one face ofthe spokes 2,.. and "this bracing ring 6 is engaged by four radiating` bracing rods 7 as illustrated clearlyin Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Each bracing rod 7 is provided at its inner end with a hook 8, which hook is adapted to be engaged by the circular band 9 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The circular band 9 is adapted to fit around one end of the hub 3 and is seated in the socket or channel 5v formed around the hub. The respective ends of the clamping band 9 are bent so as to extend in the same longitudinal plane as indicated clearly in Fig. 5 and indicated by the numeral 10, which ends are threaded and engage a turnbuckle 11 of suitable construction for the purpose of allowing the clamping band 9 to be tightly adjusted around the hub 3.

Each radiating rod 7 is provided with an angularly extending outer end 12, which extends through the bracing ring 6 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 for the purpose of receiving a clamping nut 13 which is adapted to be threaded upon the outer end 12 of the radiating rod 7, thereby firmly holding the bracing ring 6 in firm engagement with the spokes 2.

The bracing ring 6 is further held in firm engagement with the spokes which are not closely arranged with respect to the radiating rod 7 by means of cuffs 14. Each cuff 14 comprises a substantially circular fiat body having projecting ends 15, which projecting ends 15 extend through the apertures 16 formed in the ring 6. Nuts 17 are threaded upon the ends 15 for the purpose of facilitating the clamping of the cuffs 14 upon the ring 6 and in engagement with the spokes 2.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient means has been produced for bracing a wheel adapted to be used upon a wagon, or any other vehicle, and that the device may be readily and quickly applied to any form of wheel construction, and that when desired the device may be readily placed thereon or removed therefrom.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new. is:-

As a new article of manufacture, a wheel strengthener comprising a bracing ring, a circular band adapted to fit around one end of the hub of a Wheel, a plurality of rw dieting rods, one end of each rod being p rovided with a hooked portion fitting around said circular band for permitting said retaining rods to be swung to a desired angle for engagement with said bracing ring, each radiating rod provided with an angularly extending end extending through said bracing ring, said bracing ring provided with apertures extending' at right'angles to the transverse axis of 'said braeing'-I-ing, said angular-*ly extending ends ofsaid reds passingy through seid 'apertures iints threaded upon said rods for holding said bracing ring, means for holding; said bracing ring in engagement with the spokes of a. wheel, and said hub provided with notches for receiving the inner ends of said bracing rods and adapted to hold the same against circumferential movement upon said hub.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSHUA W. SPLAWN. Witnesses:

G. A. JEMISQN, B. JVVEMIJSON. i

Copies of this patent may, be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents,

i Washington, D. G. 

